What I also like about the subbass region of the S12 is the clarity, especially in relative dense passages. The LetShuoer S12 shows a fairly expansive soundstage atmosphere with adequate sense of airiness, which is suitable for fairly precise positioning and separation of instruments and vocals. For a pair of planar IEMs, the S12 Pro are relatively easy to drive, but they scale with amplification.

LETSHUOER S12 Planar IEM - Head-Fi.org

This swappable concept enables the S12 Pro to be paired with a myriad of balanced and single-ended sources. A direct single DD upgrade from the Salnotes Zero would be something like the Dunu Titan S or Tripowin Olina. LETSHUOER was founded in 2016 by an experienced team; each member has an average of 16 years of experience in the audio arena. The brightness brings a lot of clarity to the table, though on the flip side, there is sibilance and some splashiness for high hats and cymbals. Another aspect I appreciate about the S12 pro is that since it is using a single driver for its sound, it does not have any issues with cohesion.The S12 Pros sounded good but different with various sources, add to that the effect of tips and it best to say take your time and get your preferred sound setup correctly.

S12 Review: A Better, and Cheaper, Timeless? LETSHUOER S12 Review: A Better, and Cheaper, Timeless?

The S12 and the S12 pro have already been established as one of the better planar IEMs in the market. Multiple vent holes on both sides are effective in alleviating negative pressure build up within the ear canal and thus protecting your hearing. I equate Planar ability and its sound to be somewhere in between the well established balanced armatures and a traditional highly resolving dynamic driver.Nonetheless it manages to stay free of congestion with plenty of air around the performers even during the most demanding symphonic and choral works. Might be too bright for some, it wasn't the case for me, however the cymbals might hurt once in a while. Sub bass lacks a realistic texture but given that this large planar is handling all parts of the sound at once it's certainly not a bad bass presentation. The Timeless are less V-shaped than the S12 Pro, and the former are less bright, with not as deep sub-bass extension. If you play an instrument, you will be aware, that a single note extends well beyond what most care to listen for, it is obvious in a quite place, if you strike just one string, on a guitar and especially a grand piano with its huge acoustic chamber (the huge wooden extension in front of the piano, which opens to reveal the strings).

S12 Planar Magnetic Driver HiFi In-Ear Earphone LETSHUOER S12 Planar Magnetic Driver HiFi In-Ear Earphone

Now it is finally time for me to hear the S12 for myself and figure out if it is worth the hype or not. Tests were done with a Khadas Toneboard DAC -> Schiit Asgard 3 amp, E1DA 9038, Questyle M15, Colorfly CDA M1, Tempotec Sonata HD Pro (BHD firmware mod), smartphone, and Sony NW A-55 DAP (Walkman One mod) using FLAC and WAV files. The S12 Pro has a slightly warmer tonality compared to the original S12 that should be a result of the particularly tamed treble register. The P1 were a proof-of-concept of what planar drivers could bring to the table; however, they were hard to drive and had anemic bass. These planars were relegated to brief footnotes on audio forums and didn’t gain much mainstream traction.While the shells of the S12 Pro look like the spitting image of the original S12, they come in an aerospace blue hue, which is a far cry from their predecessor’s dull gray color. This is paired with two different color options, nebula gray and frosted silver, and did I mention it costs significantly less, too? Personally, I like the black narrow bore ones, as the white tips made the treble a bit too much for my preferences.

LETSHUOER S12 Planar IEM - Reviews - Head-Fi.org

It is way more technical with the BA switch turned on, though most consumers can’t use it for too long sessions. Both the LetShuoer S12 and the TiN HiFi P2 do offer an efficient performance in terms of separation and placement of instruments and vocals. YMMV, as treble perception is not uniform; it is dependent on hearing health/ age, volume played at ( Fletcher Munson curve), ear anatomy ( pinna gain), sources, and ear tips. large Planar Magnetic Driver, located inside a Five-axis CNC machined Aluminum Alloy shell in Blue (Space Blue) color that comes with 2-Pin connectors on the top.

The newer pro version seems to have an upgraded cable to go along with it being a silver-plated monocrystalline copper cable that comes with modular plugs in every termination you could use for your sources. HiFiMAN HE-400SE - I know this comparison makes little sense, but it's my main desktop setup (with the Zen Stack), so at least I can compare the technical aspects. The only drawback I could spot would be its relatively light weight, but some might see that as an advantage.